Neuroscience Requirements

Table of Contents

Neuroscientists focus on the science and biology of the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nervous system in terms of their function and dysfunction.

Getting a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university is the first step towards becoming a neuroscientist. Though a student can be a neuroscience major, they may also study biology, chemistry, or physiology. Once a bachelor's degree has been completed, the student will need to pick a direction of neuroscience to pursue.

There are a number of neuroscience careers, and what a student hopes to do dictates what type of degree they will need. For example, if the student wants to work with brain injury patients, then they will need to head to medical school. If they want to find new medicines or figure out why Alzheimer’s affects certain people, they will need to get their Ph.D. and become a researcher.

Neuroscience Salary

Neuroscience graduates earn on average $35k, putting them in the 40th percentile of earners with a degree.

Percentile

Earnings after graduation ($1000s USD)

25th (bottom earners)

$30k

Median (average earners)

$35k

75th (top earners)

$44k

Neuroscience Employment

Neuroscience graduates are moderately underemployed compared to other graduates. We have collected data on three types of underemployment. Part-time refers to work that is less than 30 hours per week. Non-college refers to work that does not require a college degree. Low-paying includes a list of low-wage service jobs such as janitorial work, serving, or dishwashing.